BCCI opens tender bids for IPL broadcast rights

Highlights

The designated rights period will be for a period of 10 years for television,

Whereas the rights will be for five years for digital platform,

Anurag Thakur also termed the bid as historic in the world of cricket,

Picture source: ThinkStock The BCCI on Sunday announced a tender process for allocating IPL Global Media Rights (TV and Digital) in New Delhi for the season starting from 2018. Sony Pictures Network (SPN) currently owns the TV rights since the inception of the lucrative league, which is going to expire after the 2017 season.

"It gives me immense joy to announce the tender process for IPL Global Media Rights (TV and Digital)," BCCI president Anurag Thakur said during a press conference on Sunday.

The designated rights period will be for a period of 10 years for television and five years for digital platform. The Rest Of The World (ROW) will also have five years period.

Sony Network had the first right to make an offer to the Board but the BCCI has decided to go for an open tender. The move is likely to find favour with the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel, which has advocated transparency in the BCCI's business deals.

Terming the bid as historic in the world of cricket, Thakur also emphasized that the board wants to be transparent and we have made it clear from the beginning that anyone who participates, will have to go through the bidding process. Therefore, Sony Network has been invited to participate in the bidding process. The board will not entertain any bid from the ones involved in the litigation with BCCI.

The BCCI chief also heaped praise on the current IPL TV rights holder, saying Sony has been very good as far as IPL is concerned and played huge role in making the tournament a huge success in the world.

The Invitation To Tender (ITT) forms will be available from September 19 to October 18 while the board has also set up October 4 as the deadline for the bidders for seeking any clarifications regarding the ITT. The bidders will have to submit their candidature to win the IPL rights on October 25 at 9:30 am and subsequently the decision will be taken on the same day.

Also addressing the press briefing along with Thakur, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri explained the procedure of the bid. Bids will be divided into two envelops. Envelope A will have the eligibility criteria whereas the financial bid will be deposited in the Envelope B.

Johri further said that only Envelopes B of compliant bids will be opened - those of non-compliant will be returned or destroyed. He also cleared that there will be no obligation for the Indian Board to accept the highest financial bid and BCCI retains the discretion to amend the process at any time. The bidders also required to submit signed media rights agreement with bid.

"It is in keeping with the highest level of transparency. Sometimes you get very similar bids and then the financial adviser look at the value of the money. The final definition of the best offer for BCCI have to be left to the financial adviser," Johri said.

On being asked why the board decided to award TV rights for 10 years and digital for five years, Johri replied TV is well established in our country and the board has also wanted to repeat the previous model. And the trend is going to change in digital so they kept it for five years.